Football | 10/20/2016 9:25:00 AM

SIOUX FALLS -- The #6 University of Sioux Falls Football Team (7-0, 3-0 NSIC South), which leads NCAA DII in total offense and ranks second in rushing, return home to host Concordia-St. Paul in an NSIC South match up at noon at Bob Young Field.

    On Oct. 15, USF spoiled Winona State's homecoming with a 41-30 victory at Maxwell Field. USF had a run of 21 straight points in the third quarter and built as much as a 25-point advantage (41-16, 4th Q) before WSU closed the game with two TDs in final two minutes. USF compiled 304 yards in the second half, including 147 rushing in picking up a seventh straight win to open the season. The Cougars have opened 7-0 for the third consecutive season.  Meanwhile Concordia St. Paul dropped a 41-21 home loss to Upper Iowa.  CSP had 271 yards passing among 301 total yards in the loss.

    USF is ranked #6 in both the AFCA Coaches Poll and D2Football.com Poll and #4 in David Boyce's DII Power Poll at NCAA.com.
    
The Matchup     
    When USF faces Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, the Cougars will look to continue its seven-game winning streak while the Golden Bears will look to end a five-game losing spin. The Cougars have scored 35 points or more in all seven games and have won by double digits in six of seven games. In breaking down the two squads, USF is among the leaders on both sides of the ball. The Cougars, which leads the nation in total offense at 560.1 yards per game and rank second in rushing, sit third in the NSIC (13th in DII) in scoring at 41.9 ppg. CSP is third at 22.3 ppg and 11th in scoring defense. USF, ranks fourth in scoring defense at 22.0 ppg, fourth in total defense at 384.2 ypg and third in rushing defense, allowing just 116.2 yards per game.  CSP, which 13th in total offense at 328.8 yards per game, 10th in total defense, allowing 406.0 ypg.   
 
Cougars move to 41-10 in NSIC games
     USF is 41-10 in NSIC games and 47-15 in all DII games since the transition in 2011. USF's clinched a 23rd straight winning season two weeks ago, a streak which is unmatched in D2 and the fifth-longest streak across all divisions. The string of success began with an 8-3 season for legendary head coach Bob Young in 1994. In the four seasons in the NSIC, USF has gone 9-2, 6-5, 11-1 (Mineral Water Bowl champs) and 9-3 in 2015.  
      
USF/CU Series record – USF has won nine straight
USF owns a 9-1 series record against Concordia-St. Paul, winning the last meeting, 49-0, in St. Paul on Oct. 31, 2015.  In the win, QB Luke Papilion completed 20-of-33 passes for 306 yards and set a career-high with six TDs passes. Brady Rose had 10 catches for 159 yards and three TD receptions. In total, USF rolled up a 515-to-141 differential in total offense. Two years ago, the Cougars took a 38-9 verdict in Sioux Falls. The win was USF's 400th in program history. USF had 486 yards in total offense, led by 247 passing and three passing TDs from QB Luke Papilion. In 2013, USF took a 47-7 win in St. Paul.  USF won a 31-23 decision in 2012 in Sioux Falls in the first meeting as NSIC members.  The Golden Bears won the first-ever matchup between the teams with a 24-16 decision in St. Paul in 1971. Since then, USF has won nine straight games.

USF leads nation in offense and ranks in 13 top 10 categories
    Through seven games, USF continues to rank among NCAA DII leaders in a myriad of categories. According to the most recent NCAA DII statistics released on Sunday, the Cougars, which defeated Winona State, 41-30, Saturday on the road, have the nation's most productive offense and rank in the top 20 in 28 team and individual statistical categories.  
    USF is ranked in the top-10 in 18 team and individual statistical categories. USF, which has had 400 yards or more total offense in every game this season, leads DII in total offense at 560.1 yards per game. The Cougars, which have had at least 251 yards rushing in every contest, ranks second in rushing at 354.8 yards per game. USF has already surpassed last year's entire rushing total of 2,291 yards with its 2,482 yards this season. The Cougars trail Harding (Ark.) by just eight yards, 2,490 to 2,482 on 99 fewer carries, and average an NCAA-best 8.01.
    USF, which also ranks third nationally in yards per play at 7.61, has generated 505, 604, 453, 636, 562 670 and 411 yards in the seven games this season.  At 41.9 points per game, USF sits 13th in DII in scoring. In first downs, USF is sixth nationally with 183. In other team categories, USF is fifth in sacks allowed (5) at 0.57 per game, seventh in team sacks with 3.86 per game (27), eighth in TFLs allowed (3.86), eighth in passes intercepted with 13 and 12th in red zone offense at a conversion rate of 91.7 percent.
     Junior running back Max Mickey continues to leads the nation in rushing yards per carry at 10.03 while also ranking fourth in both rushing yards (1,033) and rushing yards per game (147.6). Mickey, who is 14th in DII with 10 rushing TDs and ninth in total TDs with 12, has had rushing totals of 178, 185, 77, 207, 140, 156 and 91 yards in his seven games this year.  Mickey, who ranks 14th in all-purpose yards nationally at 160.0 per game, is part of a USF backfield, which has three players ranking in the top eight nationally in yards per carry. Aside from national leader Mickey, quarterback Luke Papilion is fourth at 8.34 yards per carry and running back Justin Fulks, eighth at 7.67 per tote.
    Papilion, who is USF's all-time total offense (11,238 yards) and passing leader (8,150) is 31st nationally with 692 rushing yards while Fulks is 61st with 585 yards.
A senior quarterback, Papilion ranks seventh in rushing TDs with 12 while sitting 10th in points scored with 72 and ninth in total TDs with 12. He is 15th in points responsible for with 132 and 17th in points scored average at 18.9.
    Also for USF, senior cornerback Clifford Redmond ranks 11th in fumbles recovered (2) and 11th in interceptions per game (0.6 pg).

On CSP HC Coach Shannon Currier
 Shannon Currier, who coached CSP for four seasons from 2000-03, is in his first season back at the helm for the Golden Bears. Overall he has a career mark of 54-52, including 42-43 in league play. At CSP, he has compiled a record of 34-17, including 27-14 in the NSIC. In his first stint at CSP, he compiled a 32-12 (.727) record and brought the program its first NSIC Championship in 2003 when he was named NSIC Coach of the Year. The conference title also brought a berth in the Mineral Water Bowl, the first postseason game in school history. He coached Concordia to four consecutive winning seasons and is the only coach in program history to achieve the feat - consecutive or cumulative. He arrived at Concordia in 1999 as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for former head coach and athletics director Dan O'Brien, now an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining Concordia, Currier spent two years each in similar roles at Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota Crookston following his start in college coaching at Bemidji State as an offensive graduate assistant where earned his master's degree in physical education. A native of Cosmos, Minnesota, Currier was a quarterback at Hamline University where he graduated with a degree in physical education in 1993.

Golden Bears stand 2-5
The Golden Bears opened the season with a 17-0 win over U-Mary and a 41-8 decision against Minnesota Crookston. Since they have dropped five straight, including a 52-49 decision to Minnesota Duluth. They also fell to Northern State, 31-7; Wayne State, 45-10; Minnesota State, 45-10 and Upper Iowa, 41-27.  The squad is led by quarterback Ron Johnson, who has completed 104-of-201 passes for 1,245 yards and 10 TDs with four interceptions. Also a running threat, he has 80 carries for 169 yards and five TDs. The ground attack has been paced by Darius Chapes, who has 70 carries for 458 yards with two TDs. However Chapes didn't play in the loss at Upper Iowa. The leading receiver is Alquawn Vickers, who has 23 receptions for 157 yards and no TDs. However, he has rushed for 60 yards and thrown a 73-yard TD pass. Against UIU, he had eight catches for 46 yards and five carries for 21 yards. Wide receiver Marcus Gustaveson has 20 catches for 278 yards and three TDs.  Defensively, CSP is led by Sam Johnson with 53 tackles, four TFLs, and a sack. JJ Przybylka with 39 tackles. On defense CSP has 10 sacks, seven interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Papilion owns records in passing, total offense
Luke Papilion, a senior quarterback from Denver, Colo., has become USF's all-time leader in passing and total offense.  Papilion, the NSIC's only two-time Harlon Hill candidate, now has 11,238 yards.  With 160 passing yards, Papilion has 8,150 passing which ranks first all-time. Plus he is the only USF QB ever to throw for 8,000 yards and rush for 3,000. He has 3,088 yards, which ranks seventh all-time at USF and is first among quarterbacks. He is tied for second all-time in TD passes with his TD to Max Mickey giving him 72 in his career. The all-time leader is Kurtiss Riggs, who had 85 TD passes from 1993-96.
 Other Papilion notes
~ With 11, 100-yard rushing games, he owns the mark for the most by a  quarterback at USF. This season, Papilion has four 100-yard rushing games (149, 101, 163, 122). He ranks fifth all-time for the 11 100-yard rushing games, just one away from fourth all-time (Nephi Garcia, 12, 2013-14).
~ Ranks second on the NSIC all-time chart in total offense with 304.5 yards per game, trailing only Jeff Loots of Southwest Minnesota State at 343.2. He has 7,647 yards passing and 2,926 yards rushing in NSIC only games, and is only player in NSIC history with both 2,900 yards rushing and 7,600 yards passing in NSIC play.
~ With 3,088 career rushing yards, Papilion ranks as the all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks at USF. He is seventh all-time overall at USF.

Angulo passes 2,500 yards receiving
Senior wide receiver Josh Angulo has 34 receptions for 386 yards and seven TDs. He has a season-career best 15 catches for 164 yards (1, 4, 43) vs. Bemidji State (37-36 W, 9-24-16). Angulo's 15 catches in a win over then #22 Bemidji State tied a school record (Kalen DeBoer, Nov. 2, 1996 vs. Nebraska-Wesleyan) and is the most catches by a receiver while USF has been at DII. Also this season, he had two catches for 10 yards and a TD vs. SCSU (9-1-16), recorded four caches for 71 yards and two TDs against MSUM (9-10-16) at Bob Young Field, had one catch for 18 yards against Minot State (9-17-16) and seven catches for 80 yards and a TD in the "Key to the City" victory at Augustana. Angulo added four catches for 43 yards vs. SMSU on Oct. 8. This season, he has two TDs (37, 43) of 30 yards or more. Angulo ranks fifth all-time at USF in all three major receiving categories with 184 receptions, for 2,501 yards and 28 TDs.

Rose continues to climb receiving charts
Senior H-back Brady Rose show his flexibility in the USF offense by catching and throwing a TD vs. SCSU on Sept. 1 in the opener at Husky Stadium. In the in the win over SCSU on Sept. 1, both catching and throwing a TD.  Rose had seven catches for 163 yards and a 64-yard TD reception. He also threw a 39-yard TD pass to Kyle Groeneweg. Rose had five catches for 60 yards against MSUM on Sept. 10, three catches for 62 yards and a TD, and one catch for 11 yards vs. BSU (9-24-16). Against Augustana, he accumulated seven catches for 91 yards. Against SMSU (10-8-16), he set a career high with 12 catches and had 119 yards and added two catches for 40 yards vs. Winona State. Through seven games, he has 37 catches and a team high 546 yards receiving. The 119 yards receiving was his sixth career 100-yard receiving game. He now has 169 career yardage chart with 2,237 yards. He has 18 receiving TDs, including two this year, as he sits 10th all-time at USF, just one away from Zach Rutten, who had 19 from 1997-2001.
Angulo and Rose form historical receiving duo
Josh Angulo and Brady Rose rank second all-time for a receiving duo at USF for receiving yards and receptions. The two seniors have 4,738 receiving yards, second to Alex Anderson and Jon Ryan, who had 6,474 yards from 2007-10. Angulo/Rose have 353 receptions, which is second to Anderson/Ryan total of 392.  Anderson/Ryan have 84 TDs to 47 for Rose/Angulo.

USF's "lightning fast" offense
In 2016, USF is a quick strike offense. In a week one win over SCSU, USF had six TDs with drives taking three minutes or less. Of that six TDs, five came in two minutes or less and two in under a minute. Against MSUM, five of the six scoring drives were under three minutes, including two in less than 20 seconds. USF added three more scoring drives in three minutes or less against Minot State.  Against Bemidji State, the Cougars scored 34 points in the third quarter, including three TDs in 6:27 to open the second half. All five TDs by USF were scored in less than three minutes of drive time with two under a minute vs. BSU. In the victory over Augustana, USF had two drives in three minutes or less. The Cougars had three TD drives of three minutes or less in the 48-24 win over SMSU. This year USF has produced seven TDs in 40 seconds or less. In 25 of the 39 TD drives, USF has taken less than three minutes. A year ago, USF had 44 TD drives of three minutes or less drive time with 33 in under two minutes and 16 in one minute or less.  In the past two years USF has had 110 TD drives in three minutes or less. In the past two seasons, USF has 23 scoring driving in under one minute and 49 in under two minutes of time.

Cougars sit 57-5 all-time at Bob Young Field
USF has a home record at Bob Young Field of 57-5 (.919). The Cougars, which has won 12-of-14 home games, including 3-0 in 2016, were victorious the first 32 games at the stadium and have since taken 26-of-31 at the friendly confines of Young Field. Overall, including play at Howard Wood Field (through 2006), the Cougars have won 77 of the past 82 games and 67-of-71 home conference games, including 47 in the GPAC (NAIA) and 21 (21-4) as an NSIC member in NCAA DII.  Since 2000, USF is 95-10 at home.   

By the numbers under Stugart
USF is 57-3 when leading at halftime in the Coach Stugart era.  They are 2-11 when trailing at halftime and 1-2 when tied at halftime. USF is 48-5 when scoring first and when opponents score first, the Cougars stand 15-11.

Scoring streak hits 132 games
Since moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars have scored 2,265 points in 62 games or 36.53 ppg. In 2016, USF is averaging 41.9 points per game. It has been 132 games since USF has failed to score, which was a 55-0 loss to Carroll College in the final game of the 2005 season. USF had a DII-best 73 points vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead (Sept. 27) in 2014. The previous high was in 2011 when the Cougars defeated the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 71-0.  

Cougars are 156-2-0 all-time when scoring 40 or more
When the Cougars reach 50 points, they are 65-0 all-time and 25-0 when scoring over 60 points. They are 7-0 all-time when breaking the 70-point mark. When the Cougars have scored over 40, USF has a 156-2 mark, including 26-1 in DII. When scoring over 30 points, USF is 231-8. The two times USF has lost when scoring over 40 points was a 45-40 setback to Winona State on Oct. 12, 2013 at Bob Young Field while in DII and 52-49 to Dakota Wesleyan in 1990 while in NAIA.

Offense lighting it up
With 1,277 points in the past 31 games (start of 2014 season), USF is averaging 41.2. In the past 31 games, the Cougars have scored 172 TDs or 5.6 per game.  USF has averaged more than six yards a play in 18 of the last 24 games.  With 585 yards on 64 plays, against SCSU on Sept. 1, the Cougars averaged 9.1 yards per play, which is its best mark at the NCAA DII level and the best since averaging 11.4 yards per play (638 yards on 56 plays) in a 66-13 win over Doane College on Sept. 18, 2010. With 670 yards vs. SMSU, USF had the fifth largest total in school history and second best (680, Minnesota Crookston, 2013) in the DII era. USF has had 600 yards or more in offense three times this season and 12 times in the Jed Stugart era (since 2010).

Max Mickeyis one of nations top rushers
Junior running back Max Mickey has had a big start in his junior season at USF. The standout from Holden, Mo., ranks first NCAA DII in rushing yards per carry at 10.03 and ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards per game at 147.3 per game while sitting fourth in rushing yards with 1,033 (100 carries). He is part of a backfield and an offense that leads the NSIC and ranks second nationally in rushing yards at 354.8 per game. The Cougars have rushed for 343 yards (SCSU), 444 yards (MSUM), 328 (Minot State), 406 (Bemidji State), 282 (Augustana), 428 vs. SMSU and 251 vs Winona State this season. Mickey had 13 carries for 178 yards and a TD in the win over SCSU and then produced 15 carries for 185 yards against MSUM before totaling 77 vs. Minot State on just nine carries and a career best 207 yards on 14 carries with a career-best 75-yard TD run against BSU on Sept. 24. He had 20 carries for 140 yards and two TDs vs. Augie and earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors with 15 carries for 156 yards and a career-high four total TDs. Against WSU, he had 14 carries for 91 yards and two TDs. Justin Fulks (103 vs. SCSU) and Mickey (178) both had 100-yard rushing games against SCSU on the road. Mickey (185) and Luke Papilion (149) busted out for 100-yard rushing games against MSUM.  Papilion added 101 yards rushing on Sept. 17 week vs. Minot State. Against BSU Mickey had 207 yards, the most by a USF rusher since Nephi Garcia rumbled for 225 in the snow against Wayne State on Nov. 15, 2014, and Papilion had 163 yards on 17 carries with a 46 yard TD run.  So, USF, which had just five 100-yard rushing games all last year, already has surpassed that with 11 through seven games this year. Mickey (156) Fulks (140) and Papilion (122) all had 100-yard rushing game vs. SMSU, which is a school record for most 100-yard rushing individuals in same game. Mickey now has 325 carries for 2,052 yards rushing, which ranks 12th all-time at USF. Mickey, who now has nine career 100-yard rushing games, has scored 23 career TDs, including 10 this year. Fulks, who has three 100-yard rushing games at USF, has 75 carries for 575 yards and four TD. He now has 201 carries for 1,137 yards and eight TDs at USF. Fulks, who has been on a playoff team three straight years (twice with Northwest Missouri State, who won a national title his freshman year), has 238 carries for 1,410 yards and nine TDs in his time at USF and NMSU.  

Rushing Attack best ever through 7 games
This year, the Cougars' ground game has played a huge role in the team's 7-0 start. USF has had 11 individual games of 100 yards or more in a game, which gives USF 36 since moving to DII in 2011. For the first time in school history, USF put three players over 100 yards in a 48-28 win over SMSU on Oct. 8 at Bob Young Field. Overall USF had 428 yards, the third time over 400 this year and received 100 yard games from Max Mickey (156), Justin Fulks (140) and Luke Papilion (122). Through seven games, USF has 310 carries for 2,482 yards (2nd in DII) and a nation's best 8.01 average. The total is the best at the DII era and best dating back to 1990. In fact, USF's total for seven games this season betters last year's 12-game season total of 2,291. It is the highest total by a team through sevaen games.   
Top 5 Rushing Totals after 7 Games    
Year    Att.    Yards  Avg. Per Carry
2016    310    2,482    8.01  
1998    304    1,979    6.5
2013    371    1,960    5.3
2008    360    1,732    4.8
1995    316    1,684    5.3

USF's Kicking Game performing at high level
With placekicker Brent Garner capturing the NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week honor on Monday, Oct. 17, USF's special teams units earned some well deserved recognition. Directed by coach Eric Inama, the Cougars have had stellar performances in various areas. Garner, who leads the NSIC in soring, has made 5-of-6 field goals for 83.3 percent while hammering in 38-of-40 extra points. He has a league-high 72 points.  Overall, Garneer, who has a career long of 42 yards, has made 14-of-19 field goals and 99-of-104 extra points.   If Garner had not won the NSIC award last week, another candidate was junior Stuart Vanden Heuvel, who had a career-best performance with two punts averaging 50.0 yards against WSU. Overall, he has a 39.4 yard punt average with 11 punts placed inside the 20-yard line.  Overall, he has placed 30 punts inside the 20 yard line. On kick returns, Kyle Groeneweg, who had two TD returns a year ago, is averaging 26.5 yards per return with a long of 62 yards. He is averaging 11.2 yards on punt returns, including a long of 31 yards.

Gentry, Johnson tied for 11th all-time with 17 sacks
Senior defensive ends Evan Gentry, a four year starter and Wesley Johnson, continue to apply pressure on defenses. Together they have 217 tackles, 34 sacks, and 62 TFLs. Gentry, who has 153 tackles, 17 sacks and 38.5 TFLs  (4th all-time at USF, has 24 tackles, two TFLs and a sack in 2016.  Johnson has 64 tackles, including 19 in 2016, with 17 sacks and 23.5 TFLs. Joohnson, who has a team-high 5.5 sacks this tear, and Gentry are tied for 11th all-time in career sacks with 17, 1.5 behind Ledarius Lee (2007-10) with 18.5.

Cougars 2nd in sacks & picks; Redmond has four interceptions
USF is second in the league in sacks with 27 and interceptions with 13 as senior Clifford Redmond has four interceptions, seven pass breakups, 11 passes defended, 29 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Seniors Westly Johnson has team-highs with 7.5 TFLs, team-high 5.5 sacks. Senior Michael Mehling has been one of the best linebackers in the league with a team-high 60 tackles,  including a team-high 37 solo stops; 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two passes defended and a pick six. Junior safety Josh Butler has 43 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and four passes defended. Kyle Campiotti, a junior linebacker, has 39 tackles, .5 TFls, sack and a pass breakup. USF has had 12 different players record a sack.  
 
Team Sacks at USF since 2002
2002 -- 43
2015 -- 39
2006 -- 37
2008 -- 35
2010 -- 34
2009 -- 33
2005 -- 33
2004 -- 32
2014 -- 30
2003 -- 29
2016 -- 27 (7G)
2007 -- 22
2012 -- 21
2011 -- 20
2013 -- 16
Interceptions, - Returns since
2014 -- 26 -474
2009 -- 24-305
2012 -- 23 - 296
2002 -- 22 -- 337
2010 -- 21- 274
2005 -- 21 -231
2015 -- 20 -- 374
2008 -- 20-288
2004 -- 20 -- 247
2006 -- 16 -- 148
2003 -- 16 -- 175
2011 -- 15 -- 258
2007-- 14 -- 162
2016 -- 13 -- 199 (7G)
2013 -- 9 -- 105